East Manufacturing Corp. has partnered with MeritorWabco to create an optional Power Line Carrier (PLC) communication system that monitors several trailer systems from an in-cab screen. It utilizes MeritorWabco’s Vehicle Control Systems' Infolink Gateway Communications Capabilities, the company said.
According to East, drivers can monitor air system pressure and load weight, and will be able to tell from the cab if the trailer bed on dump trailers is completely down and cradled and the tailgate is closed and latched.
"Through what is called ‘multiplexing,’ additional digital and analog data can travel through the ABS power line already installed on the trailer," said John Pierce, director of engineering for East. "The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) now standard on East trailers is compatible with this system - for ease of customer identification and ordering we're calling it the East Smart-Trailer system. Now our customers can add the new system on new trailers for the price of an in-cab screen, a few sensors, and the harnessing to connect to the PLC-compatible ECU. Working with MeritorWabco we have been able to implement the system specific to East trailers so that it only takes a small investment to receive huge operational benefits."
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